Japanese macaque
The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) is a monkey native to Japan, notable for inhabiting colder climates than any other nonhuman primate.
Old World monkey: A member of the primate group Cercopithecoidea, native to Africa and Asia. Japanese macaques belong to this primate group, whose traits distinguish them from apes and New World monkeys.
Thermoregulation: The regulation of body temperature within a range compatible with normal physiological function. Dense fur, behavior, and physiology help Japanese macaques cope with cold conditions.
Jigokudani Monkey Park: A wildlife park in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, where Japanese macaques visit natural hot springs. Its wintering macaques made hot-spring bathing widely known.
Human–wildlife conflict: Negative interactions between people and wild animals, including crop damage and threats to safety. Japanese macaques sometimes raid crops and enter settlements, prompting costly conflict.
Macaca: A genus of Old World monkeys found across Asia and parts of North Africa. This genus places the Japanese macaque among closely related macaque species.
Huddling: A behavior in which animals press together, often to conserve heat or strengthen social bonds. Japanese macaques huddle in cold weather, reducing heat loss through close contact.
Koshima macaques: A Japanese macaque group on Koshima Island studied for its spread of potato washing and other behaviors. Their learned food-washing behavior became a prominent case in studies of social learning.
Crop raiding: The consumption or damage of cultivated plants by wild animals. Crop raiding is a major source of conflict between Japanese macaques and farmers.
Japan: An island country in East Asia comprising four main islands and numerous smaller ones. The species' native range spans several of Japan's islands, but not Hokkaido.
Hot spring: A natural spring whose water is heated by geothermal energy. Macaques at Jigokudani are known for bathing in hot springs during winter.